When Hannah Whital Smith was visiting a home for the handicapped she saw the children going through exercises. They had strength but no skill to use their strength. Their deficiencies were very apparent as they made all sorts of awkward movements. Now and then, by a happy chance they would make a movement in harmony with the music and the teacher’s directions, but for the most part all was out of harmony.
Only one little girl could keep with the beat perfectly. What was her secret? The instructor was standing behind the girl and moving her arms. The girl, totally relaxed, allowed the instructor to choose every move.
One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is the joy of sensing God’s leadership, to clearly know when God is saying, “Hold it. Don’t move just yet,” and to receive grace to respond to a Spirit-given hesitancy, an inner red light. Other times the Spirit gives a clearness, an inner knowing, a green light that indicates, “This is the time, say those words, make that purchase…”
God promised, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Moses’ refusal to go without God’s direction was the secret to his ability to know God’s guidance.
Too often we don’t wait for the Spirit. Thinking we know what to say or what to do, we forge ahead, leaning on our own understanding.
But if we always lift our moments of perplexity to Him, we discover He’s willing to direct every detail of our lives. It’s like Paul said in Acts 17:28, “In him we live and move and have our being.” We make no move, say no words, without His knowing it and without His interest. My heart says, with the Psalmist, in Psalm 48:14 – “For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”